Tuesday, 9 August 2011

Devil's Double ★★☆☆☆

Based on a true story of opulence, greed and unequivocal malevolence, The Devil’s Double retells the account of Latif Yahia (Dominic Cooper) the real life ‘fiday’ – or body double – to Saddam Hussein’s notoriously wayward son Uday Hussain (also Dominic Cooper).

The moment the film’s overly stylised introduction comes to a close we are presented with Latif as he’s reunited with his old class mate Uday. The resemblance between the two is understandably uncanny, with only the flamboyant and cartoonish mannerisms of Uday separating him from the uptight and conservative Latif. The question of whether Latif will accept the role of Uday’s double is dragged out until it reaches its inevitable conclusion, with Latif unwillingly agreeing to sacrifice his identity in order to protect his family from any violent backlash his refusal may provoke from the Hussein family.